Even if the phone in our pocket does not vibrate, we can sometimes think that it does. When we think that we have received a notification and look at the screen and see no notification, we understand that we have a wrong feeling. Moreover, this feeling is quite common among people. According to scientific research; 90% of phone users experience this situation, 10% of these people feel the syndrome very often.
Ghost Vibration Syndrome, which is in the field of neuroscience, is actually related to another syndrome, Ghost Limb Syndrome, from which it takes its name. Here is the reason for this interesting trick our brain plays on us:
First of all, it is useful to explain the Phantom Limb Syndrome.
Even if a limb has been amputated, it is sometimes perceived as being in place. The brain understands that there is a problem where the amputated limb is and creates a feeling that comes from the non-existent limb.
There is a similar situation in Ghost Vibration Syndrome.
The reason why we feel vibration even though it does not vibrate is due to the dopamine secreted by our brain. According to neuroscientists, a need for dopamine arises in our brain when we do not receive notifications for a while, since notifications that we look forward to from our loved ones cause this hormone to be released. This causes a signal to be sent by the brain to the body, thus creating a sense of vibration.
Prof. Dr. According to Larry Rosen, we can perceive other vibrations that we experience in our daily life as phone vibrations. When our trousers rub against something, when our chair moves, we immediately think of the possibility of notification.
So is it possible to get rid of this feeling?
According to the researches; Turning off the vibration is 75% effective, carrying the phone in a different pocket is 63% effective, and using another phone is 50% effective. Fasting on social media and choosing to talk instead of texting can also reduce the effect of this syndrome.
This situation manifested itself as “Ghost Calling Syndrome” in the era before mobile phones. The phone was thought to be ringing, although it did not ring. This feeling is often manifested in the sounds of doorbells and recess bells today.
Sources: 1, 2
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